How to stick to your New Year Resolutions

Breaking resolutions is old news. This time, stick to them by listening to the experts below, reports Shara Ashraf.

Remember how long your last year’s resolution lasted? Making a resolution may seem like a child’s play but sticking to it is always an uphill climb for most of us. We begin with a lot of enthusiasm, but as a few days or weeks pass, the impetus fizzles out and we’re back to square one. So, before you sit down wasting your lovely notepads and diaries that end up as painful reminders of failed resolutions, we got some advise for you. You would do better by listening to experts who advise you on how to let your resolutions stay intact with a bit of self-analysis.

Don’t fool yourself with unrealistic goals Resolution that are made on the spur of the moment break like bubbles. Steer clear of setting up unrealistic goals and don’t get swayed by your mood while making a resolution. "A resolution should be well thought out and not because everyone else is making it. Don’t over-evaluate your commitment to the resolution," says psychiatrist Samir Parikh. So, strike out resolutions that are emotional and not rational.

Develop self-controlIndividuals who are able to stick to their resolutions have strong self-control. "They feel that they can make a difference if they wish to and consider destiny and environment as secondary," says psychologist Dr Pulkit Sharma. Therefore, before making resolutions, it is important to assess the degree of self-belief and self-control you have and improve upon it.

Understand bad habitsOften the bad habit we have is serving an important function for us, which we do not acknowledge consciously. So, don’t look at bad habits in a negative way. For instance, alcohol helps some individuals in distracting their mind away from emotional pain, emptiness and stress. "Once we understand the role of bad habit in our life, better ways can be thought of to deal with the stress," says Sharma.

Keep good company How committed your friends are to their resolutions can have a tremendous positive impact on you. It’s always inspiring to see a friend who’s planning to lose weight turn her face away from calorie-laden food. Having a gym buddy could inspire you to hit the gym more often. You can also join online groups and share your progress and motivating tips with others who have similar resolutions.

Monitor your progress Once you’ve come up with a plan, monitor your progress and review the plan regularly. If you feel that things are not working out, modify your plan. This will save you from getting depressed when things don’t turn out the way you expect them to be.

Love yourself All of us dislike certain aspects of our self and wish to change them. "When we have a strong hatred towards our self, we often end up being extremely harsh and critical on our self, we get demotivated," says Dr Sharma. Therefore, even when you are attempting a change, it is crucial to have a positive regard for yourself.